Hindu Americans Hail Suspension of Hateful Anti-Hindu Website

Washington, D.C. (March 6, 2012) -- Hindu Americans hailed the recent suspension of a hateful anti-Hindu website, shariah4hind.com, which explicitly advocated for the implementation of Islamic governance in India. The website urged the destruction of all “public idols and statues” in India and a prohibition on the public worship or display of religion by Hindus and other non-Muslims. Sharia4hind.com also issued fatwas, or Islamic rulings, against all Indian political parties and specifically, threatened leading politicians.

The website was suspended earlier this week by web host Site5.com, after the Hindu American Foundation (HAF)’s Managing Director and Legal Counsel, Suhag Shukla, Esq., wrote directly to the web hosting company.

"While we strongly believe in the fundamental principles of free speech, Sharia for Hind’s website was intended and likely to produce violence and lawlessness, and consequently went beyond the scope of protected speech,” said Shukla. “We are grateful to Site5.com for working with us and suspending the website.”

Sharia for Hind was reportedly established by Anjem Choudary, a British citizen who also founded Islam4UK. Islam4UK was banned in 2010 by the British Government. Other individuals associated with sharia4hind.com were allegedly involved with Al-Muhajiroun, a terrorist organization proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act 2000.

"Organizations that promote such radical agendas pose a threat to international religious freedom, not just in India, but in other parts of the world as well,” said Pawan Deshpande, HAF Executive Council Member. “The type of ideology encouraged by Shariah for Hind and its leaders frequently leads to religious violence and persecution of moderate Muslims and non-Muslims alike in many countries.”

News reports indicate that the Delhi High Court has banned the website in India and prohibited a planned Shariah for Hind rally that urged all Indian Muslims to rise and demand Islamic law. The Court ruled that the rally was a “threat to secularism and communal harmony.”